Tottenham are rumored to be leading the race for Ivory Coast international Franck Kessie with a host of clubs including Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool & Manchester United interested in the signature of the 20 year-old who plays for Atalanta in Serie A. If the quality of the clubs pursuing him alone isn’t enough to convince you of his quality, let us tell you that he made his debut for the Ivory Coast national team at the age of 17 & has gone on to make 9 more appearances since.
With the African Cup of Nations looming, clubs are still hurrying to get his signature in this winter transfer window lest they miss out & with good reason. The powerful holding midfielder is an incredibly good dribbler with the ball at his feet, a combination that is quite rare especially in such a young player. A quick look at highlight reels will tell you he loves running with the ball & beating opponents just as much as he loves taking the ball off them for his team.
It isn’t easy to score goals in the Serie A, especially as a midfielder whose duties are also to protect the defensive line in a rock solid manner. Kessie, with his tendency to pop up inside the opposition box ever so often, has 5 goals to his name in 14 appearances this season mostly scored with his feet. Another rare quality for a big powerful midfielder who is usually expected to blast them in from range or get it in the back of the net with powerful headers.
Even in this day & age of big money transfers, it is rare for a teenager who just turned 20 last Sunday to be valued at £22.5 million. He has earned that in part through his performances as an anchor for Atalanta this season, currently placed sixth in the Serie A & in part through his performances for the national team which he is expected to feature in for a long time to come.
Tottenham’s biggest flaw this season has perhaps been the inability to burst through defense-minded opposition, often being too intricate or technical & that’s one department in which Kessie would provide an alternative approach. Qualities which would certainly be valuable in almost any club.
We’ll be keeping a close eye on this transfer movement, and so should you on Kessie when he turns out for Les Elephants in January. Who knows, you might spot his trademark salute celebration soon in the Premier League.